UN drugs report: at a glance

The UN International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) annual report for 2011
reveals some cities in Britain are becoming "no go zones" where drug gangs
are in control. Here are other key findings from the report:

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Drug dealers talking on the street in a run down part of Moss Side, ManchesterPhoto: Alamy

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Class A drugs, Cocaine and a drug users syringes and equipmentPhoto: Alamy

• People in the UK are among the worst abusers of cocaine in Europe. Prevalence of cocaine abuse ranged from 0 per cent to 2.7 per cent, with "the highest prevalence rates being in Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom".

• Some British cities are becoming "no-go areas" where drugs gangs are effectively in control.

• In England the number of young people under the age of 18 being treated for cannabis abuse has increased by over 40 per cent since the period 2005-2006.

• Cannabis abuse among adults in England and Wales decreased from 7.9 per cent in 2008/9 to 6.6 per cent in 2009/10.

• A survey of young people in England revealed 8 per cent of 15-24 year-olds had "abused" illegal substances, compared to an average of 5 per cent across Europe. The figure was 16 per cent in Ireland.

• Retail outlets specialising in selling new psychoactive substances have "rapidly emerged" in Europe, with 136 Internet retail sites selling new psychoactive substances, most of which are based in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

• MDMA (ecstasy) use has fallen across Europe due to a crack down on chemical 3,4-MDP-2-P, but there are fears the fall may be temporary as a "trend" is emerging in the UK for using new chemicals known as "piperazine derivatives".

• Drug-related deaths in the UK decreased by 6.2 per cent from 2008 to 2009 and the number of deaths caused by cocaine fell sharply in 2009 after peaking in 2008.

• In 2011, the UK Government was among several that did not provide drug statistics to the UN "in a timely manner". The UN Board has "contacted the Governments concerned and requested them to rectify the situation."